The History of Men's Tennis (Open Era)

Group A – first round

(5)David Ferrer d. (3)Andy Murray         6-4, 7-5                 [ 2:00 h ]

The Spaniard drew conclusions of four consecutive defeats to Andy Murray in the last twelve months and played his best tennis in terms of aggressiveness, especially his cross-court backhand was working exceptionally well. Besides that, he showed mental resistance winning crucial points at the end of sets (needed six deuces to win the last two games of the 1st set). Murray led with a break in both sets, in the 2nd set even twice: 2:0* (deuce) and *4:3 (40-30). When everyone would have expected a tie-break, in the 12th game the Scot leading 30-15 made a fatal backhand volley error. ‘Pics’ won the next two points at the net, he was lucky at ’30 all’ because his forehand volley from a comfortable position hit the sideline. Murray had some problems with his left groin (injury time-out between the sets), in the 1st set notched an abysmal 37% of 1st serves in. “I’m very happy,” said Ferrer. “I beat Andy, in London, in his home. It is not easy. I played very consistent all the match. Maybe the first set I played better than the second, [because] in the second [set], sometimes I was a little bit nervous.”

(1)Novak Djokovic d. (7)Tomas Berdych    3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3)      [ 2:38 h ]

The beginning of the match was shocking – Berdych led 4:0 against a player, who won so many sets  6-0 or 6-1 this year. On the other hand, Djokovic lost his charm in Autumn, which was confirmed during his last two – barely decent – tournaments in Basel and Paris. The world’s number 1 managed to back into the match though, and had three break points to erase a double break deficit in the 7th game. Berdych was a dominant figure in the 3rd set, on three different occasions would have seen himself as a winner: led *4:2, 5:4* (30-15) & 6:5 (40-30). On the match point his favorite shot (forehand down the line) let him down, and completely disappeared in the deciding tie-break – produced four mistakes from that side, at *1:3 from the easiest possible position standing at the net with Djokovic running in a wrong direction… The Serb converted his first match point with a service winner and broke a 5-tie-break losing streak (the Czech began the tie-break having won the last six). “It was the toughest match probably since the US Open. I knew that my opponent tonight is an unpredictable player, who has a powerful groundstrokes and great serve. If he’s on, if he feels the ball well, it’s difficult to compete with him.” analyzed Djokovic, for whom it’s the eight m.p. down win at the main level # I’m glad after first two days given singles and doubles, eight matches have been played, only two straight setters, two finished in a deciding tie-break, would have been more interesting if the underdogs (Berdych, Fish) hadn’t choked at the final stage 😉

Doubles results:
(6)R.Lindstedt/H.Tecau d. (4)M.Bhupathi/L.Paes 7-6(6), 6-1
(1)B.Bryan/M.Bryan d. (7)J.Melzer/P.Petzschner 6-7(4), 7-5, [10-7] – 1 m.p.

# Djokovic’s m.p. wins:

Wimbledon 2005: G.Garcia-Lopez 3-6, 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(3), 6-4 – 3 mp
Vienna 2007: JI.Chela 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(2) – 2 mp
Halle 2009: F.Serra 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 – 5 mp
Basel 2009: R.Stepanek 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-2 – 3 mp
Indian Wells 2010: P.Kohlschreiber 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(3) – 3 mp
US Open 2010: R.Federer 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 – 2 mp
US Open 2011: R.Federer 6-7(7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 – 2 mp
London 2011: T.Berdych 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) – 1 mp

Group B – first round

(4)Roger Federer d. (6)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga      6-2, 2-6, 6-4       [ 1:28 h ]

The finalists of the last Sunday (Paris), met again on Sunday, this time in an opening match of the third consecutive ‘Masters’ in London to create one of the biggest H2H’s within a season #. After two lopsided sets, seemed that a tie-break would decide the final outcome, but in the 10th game Tsonga made two errors (including a double fault – risky 2nd serve), invited the opponent to attack with a poor slice and all of a sudden Federer saw a triple match point in his favor. Tsonga saved the first one with a powerful serve, but a lucky sliced return helped Federer a lot and the Frenchman only delivered the ball to the other side – Federer passed him with a calm backhand down the line to notch 13th win in a row (fourth best result of the year). “Once he got the upper hand in the second set, he started to swing more freely and got more dangerous. With me, it was just trying to stay calm, trying to wait for my chance, trying to create chances when he was not serving as well as he did at times.” said the title defender.

(2)Rafael Nadal d. (8)Mardy Fish              6-2, 3-6, 7-6(3)          [ 2:55 h ]

Fish – arguably the weakest link of the eight-men field – began his first ‘Masters’ appearance timorously like he was afraid of his body (retired in his last two tournaments). He played an awful first game on serve, was broken again at 2:4 down. The level of play was incomparably higher (also literally – many rallies with semi-lobs) in the following two sets, Fish dictated the pace with his intelligent play, mixing the things up with nice volleys and drop-shots. In a tipsy-turvy 3rd set, Nadal led 2:0, then Fish 3:2 with a break, Nadal wasted two match points at 5:4 and a tie-break had to decide. Unfortunately Fish played it badly, couldn’t return any of first four Nadal’s standard serves, and the Spaniard converted the third match point with Fish’s backhand volley error. The match was capped at 11:28 p.m. local time. “I was just excited to get out there and be a part of this whole thing,” admitted Fish. “I didn’t play well. Obviously I got a little more comfortable after playing a set. Sort of getting used to all the surroundings with people in there. With the lights back, dark, it makes for good tennis. Conditions are absolutely perfect. That took a little bit of getting used to, I guess, 20 minutes or so.”

Doubles results:
(3)M.Mirnyi/D.Nestor d. (5)R.Bopanna/A.Qureshi 7-6(2), 4-6, [11-9]
(8)M.Fyrstenberg/M.Matkowski d. (2)M.Llodra/N.Zimonjic 6-4, 5-7, [11-9]

# Seven meetings between two players within a year:

1984: John McEnroe vs. Ivan Lendl (6-1)
1995: Michael Chang vs. Jim Courier (4-3)
2007: Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic (5-2)
2009: Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic (4-3)
2011: Roger Federer vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (5-2)

(3)Roger Federer d. (6)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga       6-1, 7-6(3)      (1:26 h)

Roger Federer reminded his magic once again taking an advantage of the long season and tiredness of the main protagonists (Djokovic & Nadal). The Swiss played his best tennis in the last two weeks winning in Basel and Paris (68th & 69th title) and still has a chance to finish the season as No. 3, which I assume isn’t exceptionally important for him… Today against Tsonga, FedEx jumped into a 5:0* lead, since then didn’t break the opponent’s serve but his superiority wasn’t questioned and confirmed it in the tie-break in which established quickly a 6:1 lead (Tsonga was close to make a break in the 2nd set though, as he sent a forehand long by a few centimeters at a break point leading 4:3). The finalists may create in London one of the biggest H2H’s within a season (there’s no pair to play eight times in a year), it was their sixth meeting in 2011 #. “I’m just really ecstatic to have played so well this week from start to finish,” said the most successful player of this century. “Basically from first ball struck against [Adrian] Mannarino all the way until the very end here. I couldn’t be more happy. I have had many attempts trying to win Paris Bercy, and for some reason, I wasn’t able to win it earlier. But this one obviously feels great and it’s a special victory.” Federer becomes just the second player to win two tournaments in Paris along with Andre Agassi, who triumphed at Roland Garros and Bercy in 1999. Before Federer, only three players won Paris-Bercy not dropping a set: Amos Mansdorf (1988), Stefan Edberg (1990) & Thomas Enqvist (1996).

Doubles final:
(7)R.Bopanna/A.Qureshi d. J.Benneteau/N.Mahut 6-2, 6-4

# Six meeting between two players within a year:

1984: John McEnroe vs. Jimmy Connors (6-0)
1986: Ivan Lendl vs. Boris Becker (3-3)
1989: Boris Becker vs. Stefan Edberg (4-2)
2004: Roger Federer vs. Lleyton Hewitt (6-0)
2006: Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer (4-2)
2008: Paul-Henri Mathieu vs. Marin Cilic (3-3)
2008: Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic (4-2)
2011: Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal (6-0)
2011: Roger Federer vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (4-2)

The first semifinal disappointed, Tomas Berdych – as usual a day after a marathon – had visibly problems with his muscles and couldn’t threaten the in-form Roger Federer. The Swiss won 6-4, 6-3 in 80 minutes never facing a break point. “I really played great today. I didn’t give Tomas much. I was able to play aggressive and serve good, so overall it was a wonderful performance. I just felt like I was reading his serve, I was playing well from the baseline.” said Federer after reaching the first final in Paris-Bercy to collect finals in all ‘Masters 1000’ events.
Much more entertaining was the second semifinal, in which Jo-Wilfried Tsonga battled past John Isner in three sets (2 hours 58 minutes) to avenge a defeat he suffered two years ago after almost identical scoreline #. Tsonga didn’t break the American once in 17 return games, but was distinctively better in tie-breaks. In the 12th game of the final set, Tsonga led 40-15 on serve and made two errors followed by a double fault. He saved the match point with Isner’s help – return error after Tsonga’s conservative second serve. Tsonga fought off two more match points with forehand winner down the line and Isner’s backhand error after a short rally. Then jumped into a comfortable 3:0 lead and converted his first match point with a forehand winner. It is Isner’s sixth defeat of the season despite holding a match point – he equals an inglorious record of Ivan Ljubicic, who nine years ago lost 6 m.p. matches as well (the Croat lost more match points in total – 18, versus Isner’s 13).

# H2H, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. John Isner:

2009 – Washington, 2R: Isner 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(4)
2011 – Paris, SF: Tsonga 3-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(3)

Novak Djokovic received a walkover in Paris at Roland Garros this year from Fabio Fognini, this time in Paris it was his turn. The Serb who questioned his participation in the tournament, after winning two matches concluded that his right shoulder bothers him too much to risk a match with a difficult opponent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (H2H: 5-4 Tsonga). The Frenchman advanced for the fourth time to a ‘Masters 1000’ semifinal (twice in French speaking cities, Montreal and Paris). “I am very sorry for the tournament and the fans in Paris but my right shoulder is hurting again after winning my first two matches here. The doctors have advised that I should rest my shoulder and start treatment as soon as possible. I look forward to returning to the court in London and competing at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.” said No. 1.
In the first quarterfinal which was played, Tomas Berdych snapped a career-best 17-match winning streak of Andy Murray in the longest match of the tournament by far #, and arguably the best of the season (best of three). The 1st set was highlighted by a 14-minute 9th game when Berdych saved seven set points (4 winners, 3 Murray’s errors). In the 2nd set Murray made two comebacks, the first one from *0:3 (15-40), the second one from 2:5* in the tie-break. At 5 all the Scot was two points away from the victory but missed an easy forehand and Berdych converted the first set point with a forehand volley. Berdych held first two games of the decider with troubles (0-30 & 15-40 respectively) and broke his opponent in the 9th game with a help of Murray’s double fault. In a very tense 10-minute final game, Murray had three break points but Berdych withstood the pressure and clinched the struggle with two service winners. He improved his H2H with Murray to 3-1. Both guys played in red t-shirts and white shorts… Points won at the net: Berdych (31/46), Murray (6/9).
Berdych now faces Roger Federer, who posted his win no. 800 ## (10th in a row) beating Juan Monaco 6-3, 7-5. In the 2nd set at 5:4* Monaco was four times two points away from the set, but every time Federer responded with a convincingly offensive attitude. Thanks to surprisingly good results at the end of the season, the Argentinian might me designated to play in the Davis Cup final against Spain in the first week of December. In the last quarter-final, John Isner stunned David Ferrer 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 converting break points in both games he had chances to do that. It’s Isner’s first win over the Spaniard in four meetings. “I feel great,” declared Isner. “It was my first Masters quarter-final, as well. I’m just thrilled to have won tonight, given that Ferrer is such a tough player. He’s No. 5 in the world for a reason. I played very well, and I’m very, very happy.” The American finished the contest with two aces and two service winners (all of them at least 220 km/h!).

# Murray’s 3-hour matches (the best of three):

2006 – Monte Carlo, 1R: Lisnard 6-4, 6-7(5), 5-7… 3:07
2007 – Masters, rr: Federer 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-5… 3:01
2009 – Masters, rr: F.Verdasco 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(3)… 3:00
2010 – Masters, SF: R.Nadal 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-7(6)… 3:12
2011 – Rome, SF: N.Djokovic 1-6, 6-3, 6-7(2)… 3:02
2011 – Paris, QF: T.Berdych 6-4, 6-7(5) 4-6… 3:12

## Club “800” wins (according to ATP):

1242 – Jimmy Connors
1071 – Ivan Lendl
923 – Guillermo Vilas
875 – John McEnroe
870 – Andre Agassi
806 – Stefan Edberg
800 – Roger Federer